Theft-protected wallet



p 1954 L. R. FULTON THEFT-PROTECTED WALLET Filed Feb. 4, 1952 INVENTOR.

Loyd R. F ulfon C W Patented Sept. 28, 1954 STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a theft-protected wallet, having in mind the provision of a wallet so constructed that the same lends itself to the accomplishment of the end in view and also in the adapting of an individuals coat, jacket, vest or other like garment to use with the wallet so that the wallet will be made to accomplish the theft-protecting function for which it is intended.

Having the above and yet more particular objects and advantages in view, and which will each appear and be understood in the course of the following description and claims the inven tion consists in the novel construction and in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View portraying a theft-protecting wallet constructed in accordance with the preferred teachings of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1 and showing the wallet in place upon the person of a user.

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating an anchoring disc designed for use with the wallet; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view portraying the wallet in place on a users coat, and with one side of the coat thrown back to expose the wallet.

The wallet or pouch of the present invention is made of any suitable material, leather by preference, and while the same may be compartmented so as to provide several pockets into which valuables of one kind or another may be placed the same is here shown as presenting only a single said pocket. The pocket, designated by the numeral it, is defined between front and back walls H and I2 and is closed along the bottom and each of the two sides, and attached to said front wall to occupy a position centered with respect to the width and spaced somewhat below the top opening is the female complement !3 of a stud-and-socket snap fastener. The male complement M is attached to a flap i5 which extends upwardly as a prolongation of the back wall I 2. l6 designates a second flap overlying the flap I 5 and as here shown said second flap has its root end I! stitched, as at 18, to the back wall l2. The length of said flap I6 is such that the free portion thereof projects somewhat beyond the flap l5 and there is fixed to this free portion the male complement of a second stud-and-socket snap fastener, the mounting of said male complement being such that the stud projects from the underside of the flap.

The female complement for this second snap fastener is designated by 2!, and is aflixed to a disc-like mounting piece 22 of rubber, fabric or other like or suitable material which admits of being fastened upon the inside face of a coat, jacket or other like garment G so as to occupy a position spaced slightly below the arm-hole H. To accomplish this fastening the mounting disc 22 may be either sewed or cemented in place.

In marketing the present device there would be supplied with the wallet a set of, say, six of the mounting discs, thus enabling the user to afiix one such disc to each of several outer garments which the user is accustomed to wear. In placing the wallet in its protected concealed position the wallet proper is slipped under the wearers armpit into the arm-hole of the concerned garment and with the flap to being caught over the lip of the arm-hole as shown in Fig. 4. The stud 20 is then snapped into the mating socket of the female 2|. So supported the wallet lies comfortably underneath the upper part of the wearers arm and no indication of its presence is discernible from the outside. The wallet is easily and quickly attached and detached at will in and from its position of concealment.

While I have here shown only a single attaching snap the device might, if desired, have a second snap fitting applied to the material of the garment so as to occupy a position inside the sleeve. To complement this second fitting it would seemingly be most desirable to employ a double-headed stud in lieu of the single-headed stud I4. The outer of the two studs would then serve the attaching function.

The design of the wallet is of no moment to the invention. Also it is not essential that snap fasteners be used. While this type of fastener is illustrated in the drawing, and is now preferred by me, it will be understood that other types of fasteners such, for example, as buttons and button holes could be employed if desired. I intend that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given a scope fully commensurate with the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.

What I claim is:

1. In combination: a coat or like garment having one of two fastening complements secured thereto to occupy a position upon the inside face below the arm-hole, and a wallet occupying a position within the sleeve of the garment immediately adjacent said arm-hole and providing as a part thereof an attaching flap caught over the lip of the arm-hole and carrying upon its underside the other of said two fastening complements.

2. Structure according to claim 1 in which the wallet provides front and back walls and is closed along the bottom and both sides to define a pocket which is open at the top, and a second flap underlying the attaching flap and serving as a closure for said top opening of the pocket.

3. Structure according to claim 2 in which said closure flap is made as an integral prolongation of the Wallets back wall and wherein the attaching flap is united by stitching to said back wall.

l. In a wallet, a structure formed to present a pocket having an opening thereto, an inner flap provided upon the wallet to serve as a closure for the pocket, and an outer flap provided upon the wallet and having secured thereto a snap fastening device the functioning complement of which is adapted to be secured to a coat or other like garment so as to occupy a position exposed to the inside of the coat immediately below the arm-hole thereof, the two said flaps being secured to a common wall of the Wallet, and the outer said flap being characterized in that its snap fastening device is exposed to the inner face thereof, and namely the face most proximate to the inner flap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 745,927 Sweeney Dec. 1, 1903 1,088,784 Livingston Mar. 3, 1914 1,123,539 Inke Jan. 5, 1915 1,310,527 Guinzburg July 22, 1919 1,564,966 Kulick Dec. 8, 1925 1,760,681 Barol May 27, 1930 2,501,463 Babaian Mar. 21, 1950 

